A Zone Defence

Best Western Kuta Hotel in Bali Given Ray of Hope that Accommodation May be Given to Grant Operating Permit Despite Flagrant Violation of Zoning Rules.

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(1/17/2011)

The stand-off between Bali legislators, Badung regency administrators and the owner of the Best Western Kuta continues with some lawmakers giving indications that an accommodation might be extended to the Balinese owner currently operating the hotel without the required licenses and in blatant violation of local zoning regulations.

As reported by Bali Post,, signals are being given to the hotel's owner, Wayan Wijana, that the zoning laws could be potentially changed, ending the current impasse, if he re-submitted an application for a zoning easement.

The Best Western Kuta located on Jalan Kubu Anyar (formerly the Sapta Petala Hotel) stands in an area reserved exclusively for single residences or small boarding houses. The Best Western Kuta has 111 rooms and is in the process of adding 24 more.

Called to the Badung House of Representatives to testify before Commission B, Wijana claimed he built the hotel despite the fact that his requests for a building permit being rejected for non-compliance with zoning laws. Insisting that an easement should be granted for his hotel business, he built the large hotel on the site of a former boarding house he has operated on the site for decades.